Not sure how you feel about receiving a jury summons in the mail, but when I received mine about a month ago, let’s just say I wasn’t thrilled.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have minded. I get it – our justice system requires jurors, and I’m a registered voter in good standing with the law. I qualify. But my calendar was already marked up with several commitments that would need to be rescheduled or canceled if I were selected, and I wasn’t very excited to have to do that. Man plans, God laughs – right?
I put on notice everyone who might be affected if I were to be selected, and on October 26, I showed up at the courthouse with 289 of my soon-to-be closest friends. I just had a feeling I was going to be selected, and sure enough, after voir dire, the judge called my name and the names of eleven others.
The night before I was to report for jury duty, I prayed that if I were chosen, I’d be placed on a case that wouldn’t give me nightmares. He did indeed answer that prayer, but I wouldn’t know just how fully He’d protected me until later.
Once the judge called us to the jurors’ box, the trial began immediately. It turned out to be a civil case over alleged injuries sustained in a minor car accident.
The judge was liberal with breaks, lunch times, and afternoon dismissals that kept us out of rush hour traffic. Two and a half days after the trial had begun, closing arguments were presented, and we the jury reached a unanimous verdict after 30 minutes of deliberation.
Afterwards, the judge asked to meet with the jury. He was extremely gracious and appreciative of our service and sacrifice of schedules and commitments. He emphasized the importance of juries in the role of maintaining justice in our society. And then as he spoke, I saw just how perfectly God had answered the prayer I’d prayed that Sunday night before falling asleep.
Of the many years this judge had sat on the bench, this was the first civil case he’d ever presided over. Every other case up to that point had been a criminal trial for crimes against children. And every other courtroom in that courthouse that week hosted a criminal trial involving violence and death. Only our courtroom was the scene of a simple civil case. If I’d been sent to that same judge’s courtroom at any other time or if I’d been selected for any other trial that week, I would’ve been assigned to a case that would’ve not only given me nightmares but broken my heart and stuck with me for a long, long time.
The mercy of God…
I was glad to serve and just as glad to get in my truck and drive home at the end of the trial. But the judge’s words reminded me that justice matters.
The ultimate display of perfect justice is found in Jesus’ death on the cross. Crucifixion was a form of execution practiced by a handful of ancient cultures, most prolifically by the Roman Empire. It was generally reserved for the worst criminals and for participants in rebellion against the ruling authorities.
But Jesus was neither a criminal nor a rebel. That He died a criminal’s death begs the question: Who was the criminal? In my heart of hearts, I know the answer: It was me. Jesus died the death I deserved. I was the criminal whose place Jesus took on the cross. Guilty of crimes against a holy God. Rebelling against His rightful authority as Lord. Deserving death.
Again – the mercy of God…
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Friend, we all stand guilty before God. We have no way to pay for the sin debt we’ve accumulated, and we all deserve what His perfect justice demands as stated in Romans 6:23 – death. But greater forgiveness and grace than we can ever understand can be ours because Jesus paid that debt on the cross. Romans 3:23 is followed by this in the 24th verse: “And (we) are freely justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus offers His life for ours as a gift – a payment that frees us from the fear of punishment and death and restores our relationship with the Father. Our debt is paid in full. The Judge has declared that those who’ve laid hold of the precious gift offered by Jesus are now free and innocent.
Have you received the gift?
*****
Holy God, we confess that we all like sheep have gone astray. Your Word tells us that the just penalty for turning our backs on our Creator God is death. But because of Your great love for us, You sent Your Son to reconcile, redeem, and save the lost. Jesus, You became the curse for us. You Who had no sin became sin for us so that we might become God’s righteousness. Thank You for this beautiful rescue plan! Father, You’ve demonstrated to the world what perfect love is. You loved us first and sent Your Son to be the sacrifice that would avert Your rightful wrath against us and take it upon Himself. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your willingness to take our penalty, pay our debt, and make us right with the Father. “It is finished,” and we are grateful. In Your beautiful Name, amen. (Isaiah 53:5-6, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Galatians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 4:10, John 19:30)
*****
Thank you for joining in this week’s Scripture memory challenge as we commit to our hearts and minds Psalm 100. This week’s passage is Psalm 100:1-2.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!” - Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV)
